Scott Mills talks about being told off by BBC Radio 2 following a “irresponsible” on-air stunt.
UNIVERSAL: Presenter Scott Mills of BBC Radio 2 has thought back on his first year at the station and the reprimand he received from the crew for encouraging vehicles to blow their horns.
Scott Mills has talked about being “told off” by the BBC Radio 2 crew following a listener’s complaint on his well-known June honk-your-horn stunt.
When they drove separately to Glastonbury, the host at the time invited a listener and a crew member to beep their horns to find out how many other drivers in the area were also tuning in to his show.
One of Scott’s new listeners took issue with his amusing request, which used to be well-liked by his former Radio 1 supporters.
“A listener complained this was irresponsible and in breach of the Highway Code,” the BBC said in a statement after this.
“The ECU assessed whether the broadcast met the BBC’s standards, as set out in the Editorial Guidelines and elsewhere.”
They also stated: “There is no specific provision within the Guidelines for this kind of incident.”
Prior to his pantomime debut, Scott made the following statement exclusively to Express.co.uk: “I don’t know why I’ve suddenly gotten into trouble; I’ve done this on the radio for years.”
“However, it seems that you are not permitted to ask people to blast your horn when you don’t need to.
“I consider myself thus reprimanded. I mean, I’ve probably been doing it on Radio One for ten years or so.
“Yet someone voiced a complaint; I’ve acknowledged it and won’t repeat it.
I’m always learning, so you have to too.”
In order to take Steve Wright’s spot on BBC Radio 2, the 50-year-old put down his headphones last year after serving for 24 years on BBC Radio 1.
As his first anniversary on the show draws near, Scott considers his choice to switch radio stations.
He revealed: “I really was prepared for the new task.
“I was on Radio 1 for 24 years, but I can’t stay there forever.
“It was a significant shift, and I would have been really foolish to turn down the BBC Radio 2 job. After a year, I’m truly at ease.”
Scott, who is not afraid of a challenge, will debut in a pantomime this holiday season with comic Jarred Christmas, A1’s Mark Read, and X Factor winner Sam Bailey.
From December 15 to January 7, the ensemble will perform in the massive family pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at Demontfort Hall in Leicester.
Regarding his new position, Scott said he was taken aback to learn that he would have to sing in addition to dance on the show and immediately reached out to Joanne Clifton, his former partner on Strictly Come Dancing, for assistance.
“If anyone knows how to make me look good at dancing, when I’m not, it’s her,” said Scott.
She will probably be able to teach me a few easy steps that will make me appear okay because she is in so many touring and West End productions.
He continued, “Vernon Kay told me to sign up; he did it for the first time last year and got an award for best newbie. That’s why I did it too.
“I do like a challenge, I do like to do something every now and again that pushes me right out of my comfort zone, talking on the radio and playing songs is really easy for me, but this… not easy.”
Scott Mills shares message from absent Zoe Ball in sad farewell to BBC Radio 2 co-star
Scott Mills told BBC Radio 2 listeners that his colleague will be missed by all, including a currently absent Zoe Ball who won’t be returning to the Breakfast Show until next month.
Zoe Ball’s stand-in host Scott Mills interrupted the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show this morning to deliver an emotional message to producer Jordan Hemingway, who has stepped down from his role after three years today.
Scott, 51, was about to hand over the airwaves to Vernon Kay when he stopped the show to tell Jordan just how much he will be missed by the team, as he sets off on a new venture.
Kicking off the on-air statement, Scott began: “Now we don’t do this very often, but someone very dear to us, here at Radio 2, is leaving today. I actually don’t know how he could do this to us, but it looks like he is, he’s going through with it.
“Jordan Hemingway, you don’t want it to be all about you, you never have. Let’s pause for just a minute because the team want to say that over the last three years, they have been so inspired by your energy and your creativity, constantly, and your passion for making great radio.”
Scott went on to say that Jordan’s energy so early in the morning was “a sight to behold” and praised him for “transforming” Zoe’s show since he joined in 2021. In a message from a currently absent Zoe, he added: “As Zoe says, ‘You are a radio production ninja’, that’s what you are.
“Also from me, I just want to say, we finally did it, we finally got to work together.”
He added, emotionally: “Jordan please know that you are going to be so missed by all of us, by the whole of the Radio 2 family.
“You have literally been a part of the furniture for quite a while now and we are going to miss you.”
Scott has been filling in for Zoe for almost three weeks after she suddenly pulled out of her usual slot, earlier this month.
The reason for her absence remains unknown, however a BBC spokesperson told Express.co.uk that she will be back in September.
Will Young seemingly confirmed that he was expecting to speak to Zoe on Friday August 9, in a post he shared the night before.
Taking to his Instagram Story, he wrote: “Jumping in to album release day tomorrow on @bbcradio2. @zoetheball bring your swimmers.” She responded: “See you at dawn.”
However, instead he was greeted by Gaby Roslin for the interview.
The following Monday, Scott, who fronts his own show at 2pm, unexpectedly opened Zoe’s show and has been on hosting duties ever since.
Reassuring listeners that they hadn’t overslept, he began by saying: “Good morning! You weren’t expecting me were you?
“Welcome to Monday, this is Scott Mills. If you set your alarm to go off every morning at 6.30 and normally Zoe comes on, please do not freak out, you have not overslept until 2pm, I’m here doing the breakfast show, so do not panic, you’re not late for work.”
He added: “If you’ve just put us on this morning, it’s Scott Mills in for Zoe for the next few weeks. I’m sending you all my love Zo’ as are the team.”
